California Fire News

Firefighters battling multiple blazes on Cuesta Grade and highway Posted: 19 Aug 2007 10:11 PM CDT San Luis Obispo County's website Firefighters battling multiple blazes on Cuesta Grade and highway By Sally Connell Firefighters are responding to multiple fires at the Cuesta Grade and points further north along the west side of Highway 101. The California Highway Patrol reported on its Web site that a sports utility vehicle of dark color was seen at a few of the locations where fires were initially reported, although there is no further information at this time on that vehicle. "We're just working on putting the fires out," said a spokeswoman who answered the Cal Fire press line. She said the first mission will be to squelch the fires, and investigation will follow. At least two air tankers were dropping fire retardant on the fire which developed along the southbound lane side of Highway 101 near Tassajara Road. A helicopter and additional crews arrived on site at approximately 5:45 p.m. Another fire incident command center had been set up near Santa Rosa Road in Atascadero at Highway 101, and a third at a still undisclosed location. The CalFire spokeswoman did not have any estimated acreage for the various fires.

[EDIS] RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM PDT THIS EVENING Posted: 19 Aug 2007 05:45 PM CDT [EDIS] RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM PDT THIS EVENING -GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA- A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM PDT THIS EVENING. A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING THROUGH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH THROUGH AROUND 7 PM THIS EVENING. RELATIVE HUMIDITY... CURRENTLY NEAR 15 PERCENT WILL SLOWLY INCREASE THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS BEFORE RECOVERING TO 40% TO 55% OVERNIGHT. Instruction: A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR OR ARE OCCURRING. Area: GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA- Affected Counties or parts of: Modoc, Plumas, Placer, Mono, Lassen, El Dorado, Nevada, Sierra, Alpine, Sent: 2007-08-19T15:01:45-07:00

[EDIS] Red flag warning remains in effect until 7 pm pdt this evening for strong winds and low humidity Posted: 19 Aug 2007 03:44 PM CDT [EDIS] Red flag warning remains in effect until 7 pm pdt this evening for strong winds and low humidity MONO-EASTERN ALPINE COUNTIES-WESTERN NEVADA SIERRA FRONT A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM PDT THIS EVENING. LOW PRESSURE ALONG THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST WILL MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND NORTHERN NEVADA TODAY. SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH CURRENTLY IN WIND PRONE AREAS WILL BECOMING MORE WIDESPREAD BY LATE MORNING. RELATIVE HUMIDITY... CURRENTLY NEAR 20 PERCENT WILL DROP TO AROUND 10% BY LATE MORNING AND REMAIN THERE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE WEST AND NORTHWEST BY LATE AFTERNOON. Instruction: A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR. Area: MONO-EASTERN ALPINE COUNTIES-WESTERN NEVADA SIERRA FRONT- Affected Counties or parts of: Modoc, Plumas, Placer, Mono, Lassen, El Dorado, Nevada, Sierra, Alpine, Sent: 2007-08-19T07:07:02-07:00 From: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV

ZACA Fire 3rd largest fire in modern California history Posted: 19 Aug 2007 03:36 PM CDT Notable California wildfires by size Historic fire #1 - Great Fire of 1889 (800,000 acres) Facts Disputed The Zaca 2 Fire is now officially 188,035 acres Would the Zaca Fires have two places on the list? Zaca Fire and Zaca Fire 2? 20 Largest California Wildland Fires (By *Acreage Burned) This list is from CAL FIRE website:PDF File FIRE NAME/CAUSE DATE COUNTY ACRES STRUCTURES DEATHS 1 CEDAR (HUMAN) October 2003 SAN DIEGO 273,246 4,847 15 2 MATILIJA (UNDETERMINED) September 1932 VENTURA 220,000 0 0 3 MARBLE CONE (LIGHTNING) July 1977 MONTEREY 177,866 0 0 4 LAGUNA (POWERLINES) September 1970 SAN DIEGO 175,425 382 5 5 DAY FIRE (HUMAN) September 2006 VENTURA 162,702 11 0 6 MCNALLY (HUMAN) July 2002 TULARE 150,696 17 0 7 STANISLAUS COMPLEX (LIGHTNING) August 1987 TUOLUMNE 145,980 28 1 8 BIG BAR COMPLEX (LIGHTNING) August 1999 TRINITY 140,948 0 0 9 ZACA (HUMAN) July 2007 SANTA BARBARA 127,244 1 0 10 CAMPBELL COMPLEX (POWERLINES) August 1990 TEHAMA 125,892 27 0 11 WHEELER (ARSON) July 1985 VENTURA 118,000 26 0 12 SIMI (UNDER INVESTIGATION) October 2003 VENTURA 108,204 300 0 13 HWY. 58 (VEHICLE) August 1996 SAN LUIS OBISPO 106,668 13 0 14 CLAMPITT (POWERLINES) September 1970 LOS ANGELES 105,212 86 4 15 BAR COMPLEX (LIGHTNING) July 2006 TRINITY 100,414 0 0 16 WELLMAN (EQUIP. USE) June 1966 SANTA BARBARA 93,600 0 0 17 OLD (HUMAN) October 2003 SAN BERNARDINO 91,281 1,003 6 18 KIRK (LIGHTNING) September 1999 MONTEREY 86,700 0 0 19 REFUGIO (MISC. - STRUCTURE) September 1955 SANTA BARBARA 84,770 20 0 20 FORK (UNDETERMINED) August 1996 LAKE 82,980 40 0 CAL FIRE PUBLISH DATE: 8/16/2007 The cost of this fire is also setting records to date: $81.7 million which exceeds all years total emergency suppression fund cost for the entire years 1996 and prior... The total yearly emergency suppression budget for last year was estimated at $105.3 million. *source

SBC Fire - Evacuations, Warnings, Orders and Information - Zaca Fire Posted: 19 Aug 2007 02:26 PM CDT A Precautionary Evacuation has been issued for residents along the west side of Highway 33 from the Ventura/Santa Barbara County Line to Pine Mountain Summit Information meeting 2:00 pm Sunday at Matilija Junior High in Ojai Highway 33 closed to thru traffic as of 10am Sunday If you need more information please call the Zaca Fire Information Line (linea de informacion) at 805-961-5770 for current conditions. Updated 08/19/07 10:00 a.m. PRECAUTIONARY EVACUATION ISSUED The Zaca Fire has moved east towards Highway 33 and has become established in Deal and Rancho Nuevo Canyons in the Dick Smith Wilderness. This has prompted the Ventura County Sheriff to issue a Precautionary Evacuation for residents along the west side of Highway 33 from the Ventura/Santa Barbara County Line to Pine Mountain Summit that began on Saturday, August 18th at 6:00 pm. more photos... Warnings and Orders The Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Department and fire authorities have issued an "EVACUATION WARNING" for East Camino Cielo Road from Gibraltar Road east to the Ventura County Line including Gibraltar Reservoir and Jameson Lake effective August 17, 2007 8:00pm. Residents of these areas should consider what they need to take and be prepared to leave upon notice of the Sheriff's Department, as they may not be able to come back to retrieve personal items due to potentially rapidly changing fire conditions. This "EVACUATION WARNING" is to alert community members in the area of a potential threat to life and property. An evacuation order may follow as a result of the threat. Please monitor your local public safety warning systems and local radio and television news as conditions could rapidly change. Although Hwy 154 is reopened, the public is encouraged to continue to take US 101 and stay off Hwy 154 unless absolutely necessary Please. For those who do use Hwy 154, delays can be expected due to the reduced speed limit and the continuous movement of slow-moving firefighting vehicles. Visibility may be reduced as a result of smoke. A EVACUATION WARNING remains in effect for residents of the Paradise Road community, Los Prietos Boys Camp, Paradise Store and the Rancho Oso Guest Ranch, effective Sunday, August 12 at 7:00 p.m. The Lower Santa Ynez River Recreation Area campgrounds, day use areas and trailheads will remain closed. SMOKE AND ASH MAY BE VISIBLE OVER A WIDE AREA. The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District have issued a health advisory. People who are at risk, including children and the elderly who are more susceptible to smoke may need to take precautions. backfire... Good progress is being made in the effort to secure the fireline around the remaining southeastern fire perimeter. Reinforcement of the old fuel breaks in the front country above Montecito and Carpenteria are expected to be completed in the near future. On the northwest perimeter, the fire became well established in Sweetwater and Foresters Leap Canyons above Sisquoc Canyon and today, for safety reasons, firefighters will not be put into this dangerous area. Contingency plans are being developed to contain the fire along the Sierra Madra Ridge. On the northeast perimeter, the fire continues to be active in the Deal and Rancho Nuevo Canyons in the Dick Smith Wilderness, three miles west of Highway 33. Backfire operations have held the fire west of the Potrero Seco Ranch. Firefighters will continue to work their backfire operation from the Potrero Seco Ranch northeast towards Highway 33. A good secure fireline is also in place from Potrero Seco Ranch to Hildreth Jeep trail on the westside of the Matilija Wilderness. Later today, when and if the winds are favorable, a backfire operation will be conducted from Highway 33 at Pine Mountain Summit Road north towards Ozena. The fire kept active last night into the early morning hours in the Live Oak* zone and firefighters held the fire along the Monte Arido fuel break and the Pendola Jeepway. Farther north in the Richardson Zone* burnout operations continued towards Hwy 33. Favorable winds have provided firefighters great progress with their backfiring operations. As long as conditions are favorable the firing operations will continue along the Pendola Jeepway and the Olgivy Ranch area. A continuous fuel bed loaded with heavy, dead brush lies ahead of the fire and in several areas firefighters are burning out the fuel from in front of the fire as it tries to continue pushing east. Firefighters are expecting that increasing fire activity through out the day will try to push the fire northwest of Potrero Seco and eastward into Ventura County. On Saturday the fire made a large run to the east in the Lizard Head area, bringing the fire to within 3 miles of the residences on the west side of Highway 33 and triggering a Precautionary Evacuation which is being coordinated with Ventura County Sheriffs and assisted by Santa Barbara Sheriffs. The fire became extremely active in the Sisquoc Canyon on Saturday and firefighters were pulled out of the Sweetwater Ridge area due to safety concerns. On the east perimeter, a backfire operation was successful in holding the fire west of the Matilija Wilderness. On Saturday night, firefighters began a backfire operation from Three Sisters Peak northeast to Highway 33. In the Live Oak Zone* backfiring operations kept the fire north of the Ogilvy Ranch road yesterday while major runs were observed in Diablo Canyon when the winds aligned with the Canyon. Flames were over 100 feet high and spread very rapidly in some areas. Firefighters were successful in the Monte Arido Fuel Break firing operation Saturday and held the fire within the containment lines. Successful firing operations are proceeding along Pendola road and the Hildreth Jeepway where firefighters continue to backfire southward and force a change in the direction of the fire. In the Richardson Zone to the north, fire activity increased throughout Saturday with sustained runs as it pushed northwest of Potrero Seco and eastward into Ventura County. The fire has burned intensely throughout the evening in areas within the southern divisions. The fire made a hard push towards the junction of Pendola Road and Monte Arido Road continuing to threaten the Mantilla Wilderness. Heavy smoke conditions have continued to hamper the visibility for firefighters and aircraft. In the Live Oak Zone* the fire was well established in Mono Creek Canyon, Agoura Alienate Canyon, and north of Diablo Canyon and that triggered the predetermined plans to begin firing operations in the eastern area along the contingency lines. Firing operations will also continue in other areas depending on favorable and safe conditions. Firefighters were able to keep pace with the fire in the Ogilvy Ranch area, keeping it north of the ranch road and east of the ranch on Saturday. On Friday, along the northern perimeter, firefighters successfully completed 20 miles of backfiring to remove vegetation between the indirect fireline and the active portion of the fire in Sisquoc, Cliff and Sweetwater Canyons and firefighters continued to construct line down Sweetwater Ridge towards Sisquoc Canyon in order to stop the northwest progress of the fire in the San Rafael Wilderness. On Friday night firefighters began a backfire operation near Three Sisters Peak in order to stop the forward progress of the fire into the Matilija Wilderness. Over a dozen contingency lines and fuelbreaks have been completed and improvements are still being performed including the fuelbreaks that run west to east from Romero Canyon to Lake Casitas. These lines will also provide firefighters with the backup options that may be needed in the event of changing conditions. In the Live Oak Zone firefighters are performing backfiring operations so they may may bring the fire south into better terrain. Commanders between the two zones are coordinating their backfire operations very closely as they try to wrangle the fire into a more defendable situation. Inaccessibility is still requiring crews and equipment to be shuttled in by helicopter and the heavy smoke has not only hampered the ground attack on the fire but it has impeded air operations as well. The fire is expected to follow topography predominantly to the north and east, however the possibility exists that if winds change, it may overcome the topography and push the fire south. Firefighters had a very slight break in the daytime temperatures that were in the 90's again yesterday and they continue to hope for favorable weather. Containment has increased to 75%. The size of the fire is now 188,035 acres. The last estimated cost was at 82 million dollars. Over 2,987 personnel are currently working on this fire. *Incident Command has divided the fire into 2 closely coordinated zones. The northern portion will be the Richardson Zone" and the southern portion will be the "Live Oak Zone" Closures Highway 33 between Wheeler Gorge and Ventucopa has been closed except to local traffic only. Beginning at 10:00 am on Sunday, August 19th , this section of Hwy 33 will be closed to all traffic, including residents. The closure is required to safely conduct a backfire operation planned along Highway 33 from the Pine Mountain Road to Ozena. Travelers on Hwy 33 will continue be impacted while firefighters conduct firing and supression operations and to secure the firelines on the eastern perimeter of the fire. All or portions of Highway 33 between Ojai and Cuyama may close at any time due to changing fire and weather conditions. When conditions warrant, the Highway will be closed by authorities until it can safely be reopened to thru traffic. Closures may change at any time. Happy Canyon Road is closed at the Los Padres NF boundary. Figueroa Mountain Road is closed at the Los Padres NF boundary. East Camino Cielo is closed between Painted Cave Road and Gibraltar Road due to fire equipment traffic. Paradise Road is within the Evacuation Warning Area and is currently open to residents only. Additional areas in Los Padres National Forest are now closed due to the Zaca Fire emergency. This is due to the difficulty of evacuating forest visitors from remote areas should the fire spread and concerns for the firefighters while they build contingency lines several miles from the active fire. The closure now affects approximately 888,000 acres.

Zaca Fire - CAL FIRE reporting -75% contained - 188,035 acres Posted: 19 Aug 2007 02:09 PM CDT CAL FIRE Summary - Zaca Fire: Name: Zaca Fire County: Santa Barbara Administrative Unit: Los Padres National Forest / Santa Barbara County Fire Status/Notes: 75% contained - 188,035 acres Full containment expected on September 7, 2007. Date Started: July 4, 2007 10:53 am Last update: August 19, 2007 8:00 am Phone Numbers (805) 961-5770 (Zaca Fire Information)

Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 183,408 acres - 75 percent Posted: 19 Aug 2007 01:07 PM CDT InciWeb: Zaca Wildland Fire: Zaca Wildland Fire Incident Information Announcements News Pictures Maps INCIDENT UPDATED 41 MIN. AGO ANNOUNCEMENT Evacuation Warning Issued for Camino Cielo Road from Gibraltar Road east to the Ventura County Line including Gibraltar Reservoir and Jameson Lake. Effective August 17, 2007 8:00pmThe Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Department and fire authorities have issued an EVACUATION WARNING for East Camino Cielo Road from Gibraltar Road east to the Ventura C... more This photo was taken looking northwest from Highway 33 Credit: Heidi Anderson USFS Ojai Ranger District view pictures || view maps Summary PRECAUTIONARY EVACUATION ISSUED ! Saturday, August 18, 2007 6:00 p.m. The Zaca Fire has moved east towards Highway 33 has become established in Deal and Rancho Nuevo Canyons in the Dick Smith Wilderness. This has prompted the Ventura County Sheriff to issue a Precautionary Evacuation for residents along the west side of Highway 33 from the Ventura/Santa Barbara County Line to Pine Mountain Summit beginning Saturday, August 18, 2007 at 6:00 pm. Headline The Ventura County Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service will hold an information meeting on the Zaca Fire at 2:00 pm on Sunday at the Matilija Junior High, 703 El Paseo Road in Ojai. Joint Unified Command: Los Padres National Forest and Santa Barbara County Fire Department On the Web: http://www.sbcfire.com/ or www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres or http://www.inciweb.org/ ZACA FIRE UPDATE Saturday, August 18, 2007 8:00 PM Joint Unified Command: Los Padres National Forest and Santa Barbara County Fire Department On the Web: http://www.sbcfire.com/ or www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres or http://www.inciweb.org/ Fire Information Phone Line: (805) 961-5770 Fire Status Acres Burned: 183,408 acres Acreage Increase (last 12 hours): 11,650 acres Fireline to Build: 3 miles Date Started: July 4, 2007 at 10:53 am Percent Contained: 75 percent Expected Containment: September 7, 2007 Injuries: 30 Structures Threatened: 595 Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding Resources Crews: 72 Engines: 118 Helicopters: 20 Air Tankers: 8 Air Attack: 3 Dozers: 39 Water Tenders: 78 Total Personnel Assigned: 2,945 Cost to Date: $81.7 million Headlines: Hwy 33 between Wheeler Gorge and Ventucopa is closed except to local traffic only. Beginning at 10:00 am on Sunday, August 1, this section of Hwy 33 will be closed to all traffic, including residents. The Ventura County Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service will hold an information meeting on the Zaca Fire at 2:00 pm on Sunday at the Matilija Junior High, 703 El Paseo Road in Ojai. Current Situation: Firefighters conducted firing operations along the Pendola Jeepway and the Ogilvy Ranch area as favorable winds allowed them to make extensive progress with this tactic today. These firing operations, designed to consume fuel in the path of the fire to help suppress and change the fires direction, will continue tomorrow if conditions are favorable. On the northeast perimeter, the fire became active in the Deal and Rancho Nuevo Canyons in the Dick Smith Wilderness 3 miles west of Highway 33. As a result of the activity, the Ventura County Sheriff's Office issued a precautionary evacuation for residents along the west side of Highway 33 from the Ventura/Santa Barbara County Line to Pine Mountain Summit beginning Saturday, August 18, 2007 at 6:00 pm. The fire became active in the Sisquoc Canyon and firefighters were pulled out of the Sweetwater Ridge area due to safety concerns. On the east perimeter, a backfire operation was successful in holding the fire west of the Matilija Wilderness. Tonight, firefighters will begin a backfire operation from Three Sisters Peak northeast to Highway 33. Tomorrow, a backfiring operation will be conducted from Pine Mountain Road to Ozena. This operation will require the closure of Highway 33 to all traffic. Contingency lines in the areas of Paradise Road, Camino Cielo Road, Camuesa Road, the Sierra Madre Ridge, Pendola Road, and the Matilija Wilderness are completed. These fuel breaks provide potential containment and may be used for firing operations in the event that changing conditions warrant such actions. Additional contingency efforts include improving the following fuelbreaks: Romero, Toro, Rincon, Oil, Santa Monica, Snowball, Chismahoo, and Rice-Wills. These fuelbreaks run west to east from Romero Canyon to Lake Casitas. Forest, Road and Area Closures: Hwy 33 between Wheeler Gorge and Ventucopa is closed except to local traffic only. Happy Canyon Road is closed at Los Padres National Forest boundary. Figueroa Mountain Road is closed at the Los Padres National Forest boundary. East Camino Cielo is closed between Painted Cave Road and Gibraltar Road due to fire equipment traffic. Paradise Road is within the Evacuation Warning Area and is currently open to residents only. The Zaca Fire Area Closure in Los Padres National Forest has been expanded to include additional lands in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Kern Counties. The expanded closure now encompasses approximately 888,000 acres including the entire San Rafael, Matilija and Chumash Wildernesses, a portion of the Sespe Wilderness and adjacent national forest lands. Detailed information on the closure can be found at www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres or http://www.inciweb.org/ or the Forest Service, Evacuations: A PRECAUTIONARY EVACUATION for residents along the west side of Highway 33 from the Ventura/Santa Barbara County Line to Pine Mountain Summit The EVACUATION ORDER for Paradise Road residents, Los Prietos Boys Camp, and the Rancho Oso Guest Ranch has been downgraded to an EVACUATION WARNING. An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued for East Camino Cielo Road from Gibraltar Road east to the Ventura County Line including Gibraltar Reservoir and Jameson Lake. The Santa Ynez River Road campgrounds, day use areas and trailheads remain closed. Basic Information Incident Type Wildland Fire Cause Human Caused Date of Origin 07/04/2007 at 1053 hrs. Location 15 miles NE of Buellton Incident Commander Molumby/ Schmit/ Dietrich Current Situation Total Personnel 2,945 Size 183,408 acres Percent Contained 75% Estimated Containment Date 09/07/2007 at hrs. Fuels Involved Heavy brush containing a high dead component. Some conifer at higher elevations. Live fuel moistures are at 49% which is well below critical levels. A continuous fuel bed lies ahead of the fire. Significant Events Live Oak-South side: Richardson-North side: Outlook Planned Actions Not available Projected Movement Live Oak-South side: Continued active spread to the east up Mono and Diable Canyons. Fire is backing South in Agua Caliente Canyon. North side-Richardson Zone: Fire is moving West and North down Sisquoc River toard Sierra Madre Ridge and Southeast toward the Matilija Wilderness. Growth Potential Extreme. Terrain Difficulty Extreme. Containment Target South side: Direct and indirect strategy should succeed by 9/7 with success of backfiring. North side: Success rate is expected to be moderate, and is based on ability to anchor and hold on Sierra Madre Ridge toward Hwy 33 and moderate from Hwy 33 west to Three Sisters. Remarks Not available Weather Current Wind Conditions 10 (g-15) mph S Current Temperature 97 degrees Current Humidity 12 %

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